Transom-lifter



mammal.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. L. PENNOU'K.

TRANSOM LIFTER.

No. 449,429. Patnted Mar. 31, 18914.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. L. PENNOCK'. TRANSOM LIFTER. No. 449,429. Patented Mar. 31, 1891.

u h-W101; PenflooZ V 5y 706s rmey/S UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAHAM L. PENNOGK, OF LANSDOVNE, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRANSOM-LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 449,429, dated March 31, 1891.

Application filed JannaryZO, 1891. Serial No. 378,463. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM L. PENNOCK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lansdowne, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Devices for Operating Ventilating-Sashes of Greenhouses, &c., of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are to facilitate the opening and closing of the ventilatingsashes of greenhouses or other buildings and to effectually lock said sashes in any of their various positions of adj ustment,'and these objects Iattain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures 1, 2, and 3 are transverse sections of sufiicient of a greenhouse to illustrate my improved device for adjusting the ventilatingsashes, said device being shown in three different positions in the different views. Fig. 4 isa longitudinalsection of part of the mechanism, showing, especially, the locking devices. Figs. 5 and 6 are detached views, on a larger scale, of parts of the mechanism; and Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modification of one feature of the invention.

I11 Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A represents the glazed frame-work or sash forming one of the inclined sides of the roof of a greenhouse or other building, and B B represent the glazed frames or sashes forming the other inclined side of said roof, the sash B being fixed, but the sash B being hinged at its lower edge a and free to move at its upper edge, so that it can be opened for ventilating'purposes. In a long house there may be a number of such pivoted or ventilating sashes, and in carrying out my invention each of said sashes is connected by a rod b to an arm D, which is secured to a longitudinal shaft F, extending throughout the length of the building and free to turn in suitable hangers cl, each secured to or forming part of a clamp f, applied to one of the posts G, or a single long sash may be connected at different points in its length to a series of such arms. For each arm D there is an arm D, the two arms forming in efiect a lever of which the shaft F is the fulcrum, the arms beingadjustable circumferentially in respect toeach other, however, to accord with the varying requirements, which maybe developed in the practical use of the device. From the outer end of each arm D is suspended by means of a cord g, a weight J, which is also connected by means of another cord g to said arm D at a point between the outer end of the same and the fulcrum or pivot-shaft F, or there may be more than two points of connection, if desired.

In lifting an inclined sash, such that shown at B, the greatest force must be exerted at the commencement of the movement, the power necessary to lift the sash gradually decreasing as said sash approaches a vertical position. Hence the arm D is ar ranged so that the power applied to the same can be most advantageously exerted in lifting the sash-that is to say, the arm, when the sash is closed, occupies a substantially vertical position, the connecting-rod I) being,

attached to the end of the arm at a point beyond a vertical line depending from the center of the shaft F, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the sash B cannot beaccidentally raised. The thrust exerted upon the swinging sash when the lifting movement is first begun is an indirect thrust. Hence the weight of the sash does not prevent the easy turning of the shaft F and its operating-arm D, and the sash begins to open slowly, owing to the fact that the lift of the same is much less than the length of the arc traversed by the end of the armD, as shown in Fig. 2, the speed gradually increasing as the lever swings around so as to act more directly upon the sash, as shown in Fig. 3; but by this time the sash has assumed such an angle in respect to the vertical that it exerts but little downward pressure upon the arm of the lever. Hence from the beginning to the end of the opening movement the power is effectively applied and a series of heavy sashes can be opened with an exertion of comparatively slight effort in turning the operating-shaft F. The pendent weight J on the arm D also acts effectively in counterbalancing the weight of the sash. For instance, during the first part of the movement of the sash the weight hangs close to the shaft, and hence exerts but little eifort; but as the arm D swings outward the weight exerts more and more force upon the arm, reaching its maximum when the arm is approaching the horizontal position, and the strain upon the arm D is greatest. As the arm D swings downward and the strain on the rising arm D is reduced, the cord g slaekens and the corl g becomes the support for the weight, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the power of the weight is exerted upon the lever at a point closer to the fulcrum of the same, and hence has less effectupon the lever to correspond with the decreased resistance offered to the opening of the sash as the latter rises.

Another plan of differentially weighting the arm D is shown in Fig. 7, this plan being preferred in the case of horizontal sashes or sashes hinged at the upper end. The outer end of the arm D is inclined, and the \veightsuspendi'ng cord g bears upon this inclined portion of the arm when the sash is closed and the parts are in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 7. As the'arm D swings upward, however, and is thus subjected to more direct strain, the arm D swings downward and the point of bearing of the cord 9 upon the arm D moves farther and farther from the axis of said arm until, when the arm reaches the horizontal position shown by dotted lines, the weight exerts its maximu m force.

The clamps f, which carry the bearings d for the shaft F, are adjustable vertically upon the posts G, so as to provide for keeping the shaft in proper line, irrespective of any settling of either of the posts, and in order to prevent any binding of the shaft in its bearings, due to slight errors in alignment, the shaft is made in sections, connected together by sleeves 'i, one end of each sleeve being connected to one section of the shaft bya pin m and the other end of the sleeve being connected to the ends of the adjacent section of the shaft by a pin m at a right angle to the pin m, the sleeve fitting so loosely on the shaft-sections that slight play of the latter in the sleeve is permitted. Hence, in connection with the right-angled pins a universal j oint-connection between the successive sections of the shaft F is provided.

It is advisable to lock the ventilating-sashes in any of their various positions of adjustment, so as to prevent them from being closed or further opened by the action of the wind, and'for this purpose I mount upon the shaft F a series of locking-sleeves M, keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft, so as to be incapable of rotation thereon, as shown in Fig. 6, for instance, and each of these sleeves is tapered externally and toothed, corrugated, or roughened for engagement with the internally toothed or corrugated sleeve N, which is free to slide longitudinally on the shaft, but is prevented from rotating thereon by any suitable means-as, for instance, by means of a finger p, projecting from the sleeve and engaging with one of the supporting-posts G, as shown in Fig. 4.

The various sleeves N are connected by a cord, wire, chain, or equivalent device and are by the action of suitable weights 3 held normally in position to engage with the sleeves M and thus prevent the rotation of the shaft F; but when it is desired to operate the ventilating-sashes a pull upon the end of the cord n will withdraw all of the sleevesN from engagement with the sleeves M, and thus permit the desired rotation of the shaft, the release of the cord it after the sashes have been properly adjusted again permitting the engagement of the sleeves and the consequent locking of the shaft and sashes.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the hinged ventilating-sash of a greenhouse or other building with an operating-lever therefor, a rod con necting one arm of said lever to the free end of the sash, and aeounterbalance-weight carried by the other arm of the lever, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the hinged ventilating-sash of a greenhouse or other building with an operating-lever therefor, a rod connecting one arm of said lever to the free end of the swinging sash and a counterbalanceweight carried by the other arm ofthe lever, the connecting-rod and lever being so disposed that when the sash is closed the point of connection will be beyond the center line of the lever and the sash will be locked, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the hinged ventilating-sash of a greenhouse or other building with an operatinglever therefor, a rod connecting one arm of said lever to the free end of the hinged sash, and a weight suspended from the other arm of the lever and having, as the lever swings, points of bearing on the arm at different distances from the fulcrum of the lever, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the hinged ventilating-sash of a greenhouse or other building with an operating-lever therefor, an arm connecting one arm of said lever to the free end of the sash, and a weight suspended from the other arm of the lever by two or more cords, which are attached to the arm at different distances from the fulcrum of the lever, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the hinged sash and the operating-lever therefor comprising two arms independently secured to a fulcrumshaft, a rod connecting one of said arms to the free end of the sash, and a counterbalance-weight carried by the other arm, substantially as specified.

6. The combination of the swinging ventilating-sash, the operating-arm therefor and its connecting-rod, the shaft carrying said arm, the supporting-post with hearing for said shaft, and a clamp whereby said bearing is adjustably secured upon the supportingpost, substantially as specified.

7. The combination of the hinged ventilating sash or sashes, the operating-arms therefor and their GOIIHGGtil'lg-lOdS, a shaft carrying said arms and composed of sections with universal-joint connections, and bearings for said shaft-sections, substantially as specified.

carrying said arms, and locking devices for said shaft comprising a ribbed sleeve on the 15 shaft, and a non-rotating but longitudinallymovabie sleeve for engaging with said sleeve on the shaft, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 20 two subscribing witnesses.

ABM. L. PENNOOK.

Witnesses:

EUGENE ELTERIGI-l, HARRY SMITH. 

